After ready 4 Grands Prix, Ferrari has lastly returned to the rostrum, even when it’s solely the bottom step for now. Main the Scuderia to this vital consequence—one which actually boosts the arrogance of a staff as soon as once more going through the nightmare of not being strong sufficient to struggle for the title—was a improbable Charles Leclerc, who delivered a strong efficiency on all fronts.
The choice to increase the primary stint undoubtedly paid off for the Monegasque. With a nine-lap tire benefit, he first overtook George Russell after which constructed a adequate hole to the McLaren of Lando Norris, who completed behind the SF-25 on the finish of the race. However the truth that Leclerc was capable of lead the race for just a few laps—and thus drive in clear air—highlighted an attention-grabbing level.
Throughout the race, we witnessed Charles Leclerc’s unimaginable tempo on the medium tires, virtually on par with that of Lando Norris, who was operating on the onerous compound. This efficiency even shocked Charles Leclerc himself, fueling additional doubts a couple of automobile that already exhibits clear points and urgently wants upgrades to reignite the title hopes of its two drivers.
Saudi Arabian GP – Ferrari, Charles Leclerc: “Qualifying is our Achilles’ heel”
Within the post-race interviews for podium finishers, Charles Leclerc emphasised how a lot the staff must work on the automobile’s steadiness, particularly with qualifying in thoughts, as he nonetheless hasn’t managed to place collectively a superb qualifying lap thus far. At Jeddah, it was the primary sector the place the hole shaped between Ferrari and pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The instances recorded in sectors 2 and three, however, had been in step with the Dutchman’s.
“A optimistic weekend. I really feel I completely maximized all the pieces we may do that weekend. There was nothing extra within the automobile. I believe we have to deal with qualifying as a result of it’s been a very long time since I’ve been pleased with the automobile’s steadiness,” confessed Ferrari’s quantity 16.
“I really feel comfy with the automobile, sufficient to know I can often get probably the most out of it, however sadly the automobile’s potential isn’t ok to intention for greater qualifying positions. Within the race, nonetheless, the automobile’s steadiness paid off. We had been shocked by the tempo we had in clear air through the first stint. Every little thing went proper. Good technique. Good pit stops. There was nothing extra we may do,” Leclerc continued.
The SF-25 fuels Charles Leclerc’s doubts: “Yesterday we misplaced time within the first sector, right this moment it was our greatest”
The 1997-born driver went on to speak about his emotions through the race, admitting that the very fact the primary sector was favorable within the race—in contrast to in qualifying—is because of a transparent mistake on Ferrari’s half, one which must be resolved shortly.
Beginning as far up the grid as potential performs an important function as a result of it offers you the possibility to drive in clear air. Greater than ever this 12 months—as Leclerc himself admitted—operating with none automobile in entrance is significant.
“This time we misplaced 4 tenths within the first three corners. For the remainder of the lap we had been quick. Immediately within the race, although, the primary sector was in all probability the most effective we’ve had. We have to analyze the scenario. We’re clearly getting one thing incorrect and we have to discover a resolution. We are able to’t afford to lose too many races earlier than fixing it, as a result of we’re already 50 factors behind within the Drivers’ Championship,” Charles Leclerc concluded on the finish of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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